Editor's Blog

My new BBC Radio Berkshire slot!

My friend and columnist Nicki Whiteman from BBC Radio Berkshire has asked me to get up early on the last Saturday of each month to tell listeners about things to do and places to visit in our area. I'll have to forgo my Saturday morning treat - coffee in bed made by husband Simon - but I'm looking forward to having a good chat on air. The trouble is I think we've only got five minutes! How on earth am I going to fit everything in!?

Melvyn Bragg

If you've read your copy of our February issue (and I'm sure you have), you'll know that we planned to interview Lord Bragg for our March issue, as he's coming to the Windsor Spring Festival.

I was due to meet him in London today, but sadly I had a call to say his mother was ill and he had to go to Cumbria unexpectedly. Nevertheless, he did give us an e-mail interview, which we'll be running in the March issue.

And so who is taking his place in our 'star' slot? The lovely Kate Winslet of course! Make sure you read what she has to say about growing up in Berkshire.

The White Oak, Cookham and more on Obama's Berkshire connections

Simon and I ventured out to Cookham to the White Oak on Friday night and enjoyed a really excellent meal. The restaurand is owned by the Cripps who also have the Greene Oak at Oakley Green and Katherine is the daughter of Sir Terry and Lady Wogan. But that's by the by. What matters is the food, the service and the ambience and if you're after relaxed dining at a reasonable price, then this comes highly recommended. Read the full review in our March issue. 

Just a footnote to Barack Obama's visit to Wokingham in the '90s that I mentioned in my previous blog. His stepmother, Kenzia, is still living in Bracknell. She was married to his father, Barack Snr in Kenya, who was killed in a car crash when Barack was 21.

Barack Sr, a Muslim, would go on to marry two more women - Barack Jr's mother Ann Dunham, an American he met during a scholarship to the United States, and an American teacher called Ruth. But he has always maintained a strong bond with his stepmother, who also became great friends with Barak's mother Ann, who died in 1995.

obama in wokingham

As he stood on the steps of the White House today, watched by millions and carrying the hopes and dreams of the world on his shoulders, Wokingham probably wasn't in Barak Obama's thoughts, but in 1996 he visited the town for his ex brother-in-law's stag party at The Rose pub in Market Place. Apparently he made a swift exit when a stripper dressed as a St Trinian’s schoolgirl turned up. Even back then he was displaying the dignity and statesman-like qualities that have led him to the presidential office. Let us hope that he can restore that dignity, not only to the most powerful post in the world, but to America in the eyes of the world as well. He carries such a heavy burden. Let us hope the leaders of the free world can share some of it and together  move towards a more peaceful, fairer global community.

DAVID VINE AND WILLIAM STONE

Like many people, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of the sports commentator David Vine at the age of 73. He lived near Henley and his daughter Kim had only last month married jeweller David Dudley at Wasing Park, near Newbury, which we featured in our current issue.Our condolences to the family.

War veteran William Stone also passed away at 108 in his Sindlesham care home.We featured him in our November issue and , by way of a tribute, you can read about hsi amazing life on our home page.

 

Shorten January Campaign

I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to either a) go abroad to sunnier climes or b) hibernate in January. The month with the coldest and shortest days is also one of the longest. So here's my idea. Why don't we make the warmer months longer, i.e. add a day to April, June and September which all have only 30 days in them at the moment, and make January just 28 days long, like February?! Just a thought.

Quince Players pull it off again!

On Friday night Sophie and I went to see Red Riding Hood, performed by the indefatigable Quince Players at Cordes Hall. There's nothing quite like a panto performed by local players to get the audience whipped up into an enthusiastic frenzy and this was no exception. It was a great production, with lots of contemporary references and political quips, and plenty of audience interaction. The costumes were bright and colourful and the scenery was excellent.

There were some great moments too: the opening, for example, when Lupus Rex (aka Stephanie Ferguson) snarled onto the stage to the strains of Michael Jackson's Thriller.  No furry  skin for her, but a Chicago gangster's outfit - nice touch!

The comedy parts were particularly strong. We loved Hustle and Bustle (Amy Newman and Simon Hurry) and Andrew Darling's Bobby Shaftoe was also outstanding. But Sophie and I were agreed that Grandma Malaria Merry was one of the funniest dames we'd seen. Nick Teale's comic timing was very professional and his little asides had everyone rolling in the aisles. Great performance Nick! Hope to see you again next year!

Great fun and thoroughly recommended.    

Happy New Year!

I apologise for a bit of a belated greeting. It's just that the last few days of festive merriment have passed the Harris household by I'm afraid to relate. We were all struck down by the dreaded 'flu, with the exception of Sophie, with the result that the turkey is in the freezer, the boxes of chocolates have gone unopened and not a drop of alcohol has been consumed for almost two weeks! So, I suppose there was an upside to being confined to bed when everyone else was partying!

The other good thing was that we watched dozens of old movies on TV. Sophie nad I saw Thunderbirds are go! together and we both loved it. Of course Gerry Anderson is this month's interviewee and it was great to watch the film that he created. It may be 40 years old but it was so technologically advanced. I noted that one of the advisers was none other than the astronaut John Glen! Of course Cliff Richard and The Shadows featured in it, too!  

We also saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - it featured in our December issue. It was great location spotting during that one, too. Turville, Russell's Water etc. Earlier in the day it was Goodnight Mister Tom as well. The Chilterns had a lot of exposure that day!

Anyway we'll all be back to normal on Monday - just in time to start work/school again!

Happy New Year!